Indian Head Wastewater Treatment Plant (MD)

The U.S. Navy’s $13.9 million Indian Head Wastewater Treatment Plant Control/Laboratory Building in Indian Head, Md., has been awarded the LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). Brown and Caldwell partnered with Haskell to design and construct the upgrades to the 0.5 million gallon per day STP using the design-build delivery method.

LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. “LEED certification is good news for the Navy and good news for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed,” said Brown and Caldwell project manager Pete Schuler. “The design features will help the facility operate more sustainably and meet lower nutrient limits.” The facility achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. By using less energy and water, LEED certified building saves money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduces greenhouse gas emissions; and contributes to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

“The green building movement offers an unprecedented opportunity to respond to the most important challenges of our time, including global climate change, dependence on non-sustainable and expensive sources of energy and threats to human health,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “The work of innovative building projects such as the Indian Head STP is a fundamental driving force in the green building movement.” LEED certification of the Indian Head plant was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include:

Energy and water conservation and efficiency: Landscaping was designed so that no irrigation was necessary, used porous pavement, low flow fixtures (faucets, water closets,sinks to decrease use by 37%)

Use of recovered and recycled materials: 20% of the building materials contained recycled content and 85% of the construction waste was diverted from landfills

Reduction or elimination of toxic and harmful substances: Project utilized low VOC paints, coatings, adhesives, and sealants. In addition, the project installed UV disinfection to eliminate the need to use chlorine gas and sulfur dioxide gas for chlorination / dechlorination.

Efficiency in resource and materials utilization: 45% of the total building materials extracted, harvested, recovered or manufactured within 500 miles of the project site.

Development of healthy, safe and productive work environments: 99% of the regularly occupied spaces have access to views and daylighting.

The improved wastewater treatment plant also includes new headworks (screening and grit removal), influent pump station, continuous inflow SBRs, Blue Water upflow filters, UV disinfection, post aeration tanks, and a new control/laboratory building. In addition, the old aeration basins were converted to new aerobic digesters and most of the old wastewater treatment plant was demolished to avoid increasing the impervious area at the site.